Benkadi A Group

The members of the Benkadi A group are married women who on average are 42 years old with six children, all living in polygamous families in N'Golokouna, a village in Sikasso, 3rd administrative region of Mali. They work with the Soro Yiriwaso microfinance institution to carry out their agricultural activities during the rainy season. They are on their fourth loan with the institution, and past loans have been fully repaid. Mrs. Fatoumata is the featured member. She is standing in the middle in the photo, and she cultivates corn. With her ​​loan, she intends to pay for plowing, seeds and fertilizer to maintain 0.5 hectares (1.24 acres). After harvest the production is sold at village level and in Sikasso to a clientele composed of men and women. She expects to achieve an average profit of 70,000 CFA francs per growing season. The profits will enable her to pay off her loan and also help her husband with daily expenses.